Frequency lock-in phenomenon for oscillating airfoils in buffeting flows

Navier-Stokes based computer simulations are conducted to determine the aerodynamic flow field response that is observed for a NACA0012 airfoil that undergoes prescribed harmonic oscillation in transonic buffeting flows, and also in pre-buffet flow conditions. Shock buffet is the term for the self-sustained shock oscillations that are observed for certain combinations of Mach number and steady mean flow angle of attack even in the absence of structural motion. The shock buffet frequencies are typically on the order of the elastic structural frequencies, and therefore may be a contributor to transonic aeroelastic response phenomena, including limit-cycle oscillations. Numerical simulations indicate that the pre-shock-buffet flow natural frequency increases with mean angle of attack, while the flow damping decreases and approaches zero at the onset of buffet. Airfoil harmonic heave motions are prescribed to study the interaction between the flow fields induced by the shock buffet and airfoil motion, respectively. At pre-shock-buffet conditions the flow response is predominantly at the airfoil motion frequency, with some smaller response at multiplies of this frequency. At shock buffet conditions, a key effect of prescribed airfoil motions on the buffeting flow is to create the possibility of a lock-in phenomenon, in which the shock buffet frequency is synchronized to the prescribed airfoil motion frequency for certain combinations of airfoil motion frequencies and amplitudes. Aerodynamic gain-phase models for the lock-in region, as well as for the pre-shock-buffet conditions are suggested, and also a possible relationship between the lock-in mechanism and limit-cycle oscillation is discussed.     

顺桨风力机塔叶干涉翼型非稳气动力时频特性

由于风力机叶片与塔筒流场相互干涉,实际气动力与理想情况存在较大差异,这种干涉作用造成的气动力差异给叶片与塔筒结构可靠性带来不可忽视的影响.以翼型DU91-W2-250为研究对象,采用瞬态数值分析与本征正交分解方法,考虑叶片和塔筒流场相互干涉作用,分析顺桨工况翼型非稳气动力时频特性及其影响规律,量化不同雷诺数下塔叶相对位置及几何参数对气动力均值、波动幅度和频率的影响程度,通过流场模态能量分布形态分析,揭示流场干涉对气动力的影响机制.结果表明,翼型气动中心至塔筒几何中心的垂直距离、水平距离以及塔筒直径相对于翼型弦长的无量纲参数y*,x*和D*对气动力均有不同程度影响,其中y*对升阻力系数均值影响最大,对频率无明显影响,y*绝对值越大,C_l均值越接近单翼型C_l值,y*绝对值越小升阻力系数波动幅度越大,y*从-12增大到12,升力系数均值最小值为-0.48,最大值为1.16;x*减小和D*增大,反向阻力均值增大,波动幅度增大,波动频率略有下降,当x*小于临界值5时,带塔翼型阻力均值反向;在计算范围内,带塔翼型升力系数均值相对于单翼型升力系数最大偏差为...     

A method to carry out shape optimization with a large number of design variables

A new method for shape optimization with relatively large number of design variables is proposed. It is well known that gradient‐based methods converge to a local optimum. As a result, utilization of a richer design space does not necessarily lead to a better design. This is demonstrated via the design of an airfoil for maximum lift for Re = 1000 and α = 4° flow. The airfoil is represented by fourth‐order non‐uniform rational B‐splines, and the control points are used as design variables. Starting with a NACA0012 airfoil, it is found that the optimal airfoil obtained with 13 control points has far superior aerodynamic performance than the ones obtained with 39 and 61 control points. For effective utilization of a richer design space, it is proposed that the number of design variables be increased gradually. The method is demonstrated by designing high lift airfoils for Re = 1000 and 1 × 10⁴. The objective function is the maximization of the time‐averaged lift coefficient for α = 4°. The optimization cycle with 27 control points is initiated with the optimal airfoil obtained with 13 control points. The process is continued with gradual increase in the number of design variables. Beyond a certain number of control points, the optimization leads to a spontaneous appearance of corrugations on the upper surface of the airfoil. The corrugations are responsible for the generation of small vortices that add to the suction on the upper surface of the airfoil and lead to enhanced lift. A stabilized finite element method is used to solve the unsteady flow and adjoint equations. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Adjoint‐based airfoil optimization with discretization error control

In this article, we develop a new airfoil shape optimization algorithm based on higher‐order adaptive DG methods with control of the discretization error. Each flow solution in the optimization loop is computed on a sequence of goal‐oriented h‐refined or hp‐refined meshes until the error estimation of the discretization error in a flow‐related target quantity (including the drag and lift coefficients) is below a prescribed tolerance. Discrete adjoint solutions are computed and employed for the multi‐target error estimation and adaptive mesh refinement. Furthermore, discrete adjoint solutions are employed for evaluating the gradients of the objective function used in the CGs optimization algorithm. Furthermore, an extension of the adjoint‐based gradient evaluation to the case of target lift flow computations is employed. The proposed algorithm is demonstrated on an inviscid transonic flow around the RAE2822, where the shape is optimized to minimize the drag at a given constant lift and airfoil thickness. The effect of the accuracy of the underlying flow solutions on the quality of the optimized airfoil shapes is investigated. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

排翼布局飞行器气动性能的实验研究

通过低速低湍流度风洞实验,研究了利用排翼布局改善充气飞机采用大厚度翼型机翼带来的气动效率偏低问题。首先比较了采用不同厚度翼型的单翼与排式双翼布局的气动特性。在此基础上,为了优化排翼布局的气动特性,研究了给后翼安装偏转角对排翼布局气动特性的影响。同时,基于NACA0030翼型,设计了波纹型外形的充气机翼,比较了此外形下单翼和排翼布局气动性能的差异。实验结果表明,采用排翼布局能够改善采用厚翼型单翼布局的气动性能,而给后翼安装一定偏转角可以进一步提高排翼布局的升力和升阻比。采用波纹外形和光滑外形机翼模型的对比结果表明,波纹外形能够在大迎角时改善充气机翼的失速性能。分析认为,造成这一现象的流动机理是由于波纹型机翼在实验条件下提前由层流转捩为湍流,使失速推迟,流动分离现象有所减弱。     

Flows around two airfoils performing fling and subsequent translation and translation and subsequent clap

The aerodynamic forces and flow structures of two airfoils performing “fling and subsequent translation“ and “translation and subsequent clap“ are studied by numerically solving the Navier-Stokes equations in moving overset grids. These motions are relevant to the flight of very small insects. The Reynolds number, based on the airfoil chord length c and the translation velocity U, is 17. It is shown that: (1) For two airfoils performing fling and subsequent translation, a large lift is generated both in the fling phase and in the early part of the translation phase. During the fling phase,a pair of leading edge vortices of large strength is generated; the generation of the vortex pair in a short period results in a large time rate of change of fluid impulse, which explains the large lift in this period. During the early part of the translation, the two leading edge vortices move with the airfoils;the relative movement of the vortices also results in a large time rate of change of fluid impulse, which explains the large lift in this part of motion. (In the later part of the translation, the vorticity in the vortices is diffused and convected into the wake.) The time averaged lift coefficient is approximately 2.4 times as large as that of a single airfoil performing a similar motion. (2) For two airfoils performing translation and subsequent clap, a large lift is generated in the clap phase. During the clap, a pair of trailing edge vortices of large strength are generated; again, the generation of the vortex pair in a short period (which results in a large time rate of change of fluid impulse) is responsible for the large lift in this period. The time averaged lift coefficient is approximately 1.6 times as large as that of a single airfoil performing a similar motion. (3) When the initial distance between the airfoils (in the case of clap, the final distance between the airfoils) varies from 0.1 to 0.2c, the lift on an airfoil decreases only slightly but the torque decreases greatly. When the distance is about lc， the interference effects between the two airfoils become very small.     

Effect of vortex shedding in unsteady aerodynamic forces for a low Reynolds number stationary wing at low angle of attack

This study elucidates the relation between wake vortex shedding and aerodynamic force fluctuations for a low Reynolds number wing from time resolved particle image velocimetry (TR-PIV) experimental measurements. The results reveal a periodic lift and drag variation within the shedding cycle and resolve the frequencies of those fluctuations from a proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) and power spectral density (PSD) analysis. To show the effect of vortex shedding on the body force fluctuations, the evolution of instantaneous aerodynamic forces is compared to the pressure field of the fluid flow and to the vortical structures in the wake of the airfoil. A six step model describing the vortex-force relation is proposed. It shows that changes in lift such as maximum lift and minimum lift are associated with the detachment of a vortex. It also shows that the minimum or local minimum drag value is obtained at the onset formation of a vortex on the airfoil wake. Similarly, the maximum or local maximum drag is obtained at the onset formation of the saddle on the airfoil wake. The model further explains the asymmetry observed in the unsteady drag force evolution. The model can be used to optimize flow control and fluid-structure interaction applications.     

Experimental analysis of passive bio-inspired covert feathers for stall and post-stall performance enhancement

Technologies inspired by the functioning and behavior of biological beings are commonly developed for aircraft flight. Among the bio-inspired approaches that have grown in interest, particularly for unmanned aerial vehicle flight, is based on the behavior of bird’s cover feathers under higher angles of attack. The covert feathers, when activated by separated flows, promote lift increment that helps in certain maneuvers. This work investigates the benefit in the stall and post-stall performance of employing bio-inspired covert feathers devices attached to an airfoil’s upper surface. To fill the gaps in the recent technical literature, experimental analysis of an SD7003 airfoil was executed in a wind tunnel with the application of bio-inspired covert feathers of different shapes and tapes in three chordwise positions. The bio-inspired devices were conceived to resemble the feathers’ lightness and discrete-distribution along with the wing model. Experiments were carried out measuring the aerodynamic forces and moment at Reynolds number around 170,000 for static and dynamic ramp-up and hold pitching motion. It has been confirmed that the use of bio-inspired covert feathers brought benefits to the stall and post-stall behavior of the airfoil. The maximum lift has increased, and the transition from attached to stalled flow around the airfoil tends to be smoother when the devices were used. Four shapes for the bio-inspired devices and three positions in chordwise direction were considered. The best performance among the case was encountered for a jagged bio-inspired device taped at a quarter-chord position. Indeed, the most forward position for all the devices resulted in higher maximum lift and increment to the respective angle of attack. Ramp-up and hold wind tunnel tests also confirmed the best performance of jagged bio-inspired devices nearer the leading edge. The aerodynamic response to the pitching motion showed that the stall and post-stall regime occur much smoother, indicating that the approach presents good potential for dynamic stall or gust response passive control.

     

局部弹性翼型非定常分离的动力学特性

对在低雷诺数下局部弹性翼型绕流中, 局部弹性导致的自激振动所产生的复杂非定常流动分离现象和描述方法进行了分析. 采用ALE-CBS方法数值模拟了具有可动边界的绕流流场问题, 同时采用Galerkin方法求解局部弹性结构的控制方程. 着重研究了翼型的局部弹性对流动分离和翼型性能的影响, 并分别从Eulerian和Lagrangian的角度分析了局部弹性结构导致的不同非定常分离现象, 其中Lagrangian角度可以方便地揭示出局部弹性翼型大幅度提高升力的机理和流动中的能量迁移. 结果表明翼型的局部弹性对非定常分离和分离泡的演化过程有着明显的影响, 可以使得流体质点由主流获取动量实现再附, 并且在一定的攻角下可以将固定分离转变为移动分离, 从而明显地提高了翼型的升力.      

可变形儒可夫斯基翼型亚音速非定常气动力的研究

对于翼面变形速度远小于来流速度情况下的儒可夫斯翼型亚音速绕流问题,通过仿射变换将可压缩流动转换成不可压缩流动,将解析解和离散涡方法相结合计算变形机翼的不可压缩流动速度场,再利用逆变换得到变形机翼的亚音速流动速度场,进而分析非定常气动力特性,建立变形机翼的准定常升力系数和非定常附加升力系数在可压缩和不可压缩两种状态下的简单近似对应关系。计算结果显示变形机翼的非定常气动升力近似等于准定常计算结果叠加上虚拟质量力导致的非定常附加升力,该非定常附加升力随翼型变形速率呈线性关系,由机翼当前时刻飞行姿态、翼型及其变形速率确定,与具体变形历史过程无关。低来流马赫数时虚拟质量力导致的非定常效应显著,高亚音速流动时准定常升力起主导作用。同时还分析了不同马赫数下机翼往复变形过程中升力的变化特性,指出尽管高亚音速变形机翼的气动升力近似等于准定常气动升力,但不能忽视非定常附加升力的影响,非定常附加升力将导致完成往复变形需要外界输入正比于Ma∞/[(1-Ma2∞)]的功。     

A study on the mechanism of high-lift generation by an airfoil in unsteady motion at low reynolds number

The aerodynamic force and flow structure of NACA 0012 airfoil performing an unsteady motion at low Reynolds number (Re=100) are calculated by solving Navier-Stokes equations. The motion consists of three parts: the first translation, rotation and the second translation in the direction opposite to the first. The rotation and the second translation in this motion are expected to represent the rotation and translation of the wing-section of a hovering insect. The flow structure is used in combination with the theory of vorticity dynamics to explain the generation of unsteady aerodynamic force in the motion. During the rotation, due to the creation of strong vortices in short time, large aerodynamic force is produced and the force is almost normal to the airfoil chord. During the second translation, large lift coefficient can be maintained for certain time period and , the lift coefficient averaged over four chord lengths of travel, is larger than 2 (the corresponding steady-state lift coefficient is only 0.9). The large lift coefficient is due to two effects. The first is the delayed shedding of the stall vortex. The second is that the vortices created during the airfoil rotation and in the near wake left by previous translation form a short “vortex street” in front of the airfoil and the “vortex street” induces a “wind”; against this “wind” the airfoil translates, increasing its relative speed. The above results provide insights to the understanding of the mechanism of high-lift generation by a hovering insect. The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (19725210)     

Prediction of high frequency gust response with airfoil thickness effects

The unsteady lift forces that act on an airfoil in turbulent flow are an undesirable source of vibration and noise in many industrial applications. Methods to predict these forces have traditionally treated the airfoil as a flat plate. At higher frequencies, where the relevant turbulent length scales are comparable to the airfoil thickness, the flat plate approximation becomes invalid and results in overprediction of the unsteady force spectrum. This work provides an improved methodology for the prediction of the unsteady lift forces that accounts for the thickness of the airfoil. An analytical model was developed to calculate the response of the airfoil to high frequency gusts. The approach is based on a time-domain calculation with a sharp-edged gust and accounts for the distortion of the gust by the mean flow around the airfoil leading edge. The unsteady lift is calculated from a weighted integration of the gust vorticity, which makes the model relatively straightforward to implement and verify. For routine design calculations of turbulence-induced forces, a closed-form gust response thickness correction factor was developed for NACA 65 series airfoils.     

合成射流对失速状态下翼型大分离流动控制的试验研究

为研究低速状态合成射流在抑制翼型气流分离和推迟失速方面的控制机理, 开展了NACA0021 翼型失速特性射流控制的风洞试验研究. 通过系统性的模型测力、翼型瞬态流场粒子图像测速和边界层速度测定的对比试验, 深入探索了合成射流各参数对翼型失速特性控制效果的影响规律. 试验结果表明射流偏角在翼型升力和失速迎角控制方面的效果对射流动量系数较为敏感: 当动量系数较大时, 近切向射流的控制效果更好. 射流动量系数为0.033 时, 偏角30°的射流使得翼型升力系数峰值提高23.56%, 失速迎角增大5°; 而动量系数较小时, 偏角较大的射流能够获得最佳控制效果. 射流动量系数为0.0026 时, 法向射流对翼型最大升力系数控制效果最好(提高9.2%).      

Numerical investigations into the asymmetric effects on the aerodynamic response of a pitching airfoil

The effects of asymmetric sinusoidal motion on pitching airfoil aerodynamics were studied by numerical simulations for 2-D flow around a NACA0012 airfoil at Re=1.35×10⁵. Various unsteady parameters (amplitude of oscillation, d; reduced frequency, k) were applied to investigate the effect of asymmetry parameter S on the instantaneous force coefficients and flow patterns. The results reveal that S has a noticeable effect on the aerodynamic performance, as it affects the instantaneous force coefficient, maximum lift and drag coefficient, hysteresis loops and the flow structures.     

平板大攻角绕流升力和阻力系数的计算

二维平板或二维对称薄翼型大攻角绕流升力和阻力系数与攻角之间存在的函数关系一般用数据表格的形式给出。本文根据垂直平板绕流阻力实验数据和对称薄翼型全攻角绕流实验数据,分析得到了平板大攻角绕流总压力及其升力分量和阻力分量系数的近似计算公式。结果表明：平板总压力系数约等于攻角正弦值的2倍;总压力的阻力分量系数约等于攻角正弦值平方的2倍;升力分量系数约为攻角2倍的正弦值。计算结果与两组试验数据具有较好的一致性。     

On the generation of yawing moment using active flow control

The generation of control moments without moving control surfaces is of great practical importance. Following a successful flight demonstration of creating roll motion without ailerons using differential, lift oriented, flow control the current study is a first step towards generating yawing motion via differential flow controlled drag.A wind tunnel study was conducted on a 21% thick Glauert type airfoil. The upper surface flow is partially separated from the two-thirds chord location and downstream on this airfoil at all incidence angles. An array of mass-less Piezo-fluidic actuators, located at x/c = 0.65, are capable of fully reattaching the flow in a gradual, controlled manner. The actuators are individually operated such that the boundary layer could be controlled in a 3D fashion.Several concepts for creating yaw motion without moving control surface are examined. The ultimate goal is to generate the same lift on both wings, while decreasing the drag on one wing and increasing the drag on the other, therefore creating a yawing moment. Decreased drag is created by effective part-span separation delay while increased drag can be created by enhanced generation of vortex shedding or by highly localized 3D actuation.Detailed measurements of 3D surface pressure distributions and wake data with three velocity and streamwise vorticity components are presented and discussed along with surface flow visualization images. The data provide evidence that yawing moments can be generated with AFC.     

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON LIFT INCREMENT OF A PLASMA CIRCULATION CONTROL AIRFOIL

利用等离子体激励器发展了新型的环量增升技术,并对二维NACA0012翼型绕流实施控制。由于NACA0012翼型为尖后缘构型,环量增升装置由2个非对称型介质阻挡放电等离子体激励器构成。一个等离子体激励器贴附于翼型吸力面靠近后缘处,其诱导的壁面射流沿来流方向指向下游;另一个等离子体激励器贴附于翼型压力面靠近后缘处,其诱导的壁面射流与来流方向相反指向上游。在风洞中通过时间解析二维PIV系统对翼型绕流流场进行了测量,基于翼型弦长的雷诺数Re=20 000。结果表明在等离子体激励器的控制下,翼型压力面靠近后缘处可以形成一个定常回流区,从而起到虚拟气动外形的作用,因此翼型吸力面的流场得到加速,压力面的流场得到减速,使得翼型压力面的吸力以及压力面的压力都得到增加,进而增加了翼型的环量。风洞天平测力实验进一步验证了该环量增升技术的有效性。在整个攻角范围内,施加控制的翼型的升力系数相比没有控制的工况有明显的提高。     

An experimental study of a bio-inspired corrugated airfoil for micro air vehicle applications

An experimental study was conducted to investigate the aerodynamic characteristics of a bio-inspired corrugated airfoil compared with a smooth-surfaced airfoil and a flat plate at the chord Reynolds number of Re _C  = 58,000–125,000 to explore the potential applications of such bio-inspired corrugated airfoils for micro air vehicle designs. In addition to measuring the aerodynamic lift and drag forces acting on the tested airfoils, a digital particle image velocimetry system was used to conduct detailed flowfield measurements to quantify the transient behavior of vortex and turbulent flow structures around the airfoils. The measurement result revealed clearly that the corrugated airfoil has better performance over the smooth-surfaced airfoil and the flat plate in providing higher lift and preventing large-scale flow separation and airfoil stall at low Reynolds numbers (Re _C  < 100,000). While aerodynamic performance of the smooth-surfaced airfoil and the flat plate would vary considerably with the changing of the chord Reynolds numbers, the aerodynamic performance of the corrugated airfoil was found to be almost insensitive to the Reynolds numbers. The detailed flow field measurements were correlated with the aerodynamic force measurement data to elucidate underlying physics to improve our understanding about how and why the corrugation feature found in dragonfly wings holds aerodynamic advantages for low Reynolds number flight applications.     

Dynamic stall behavior from unsteady force measurements

A direct force measurement technique employing piezoelectric load cells is used to experimentally investigate a two-dimensional airfoil (NACA 0012) undergoing dynamic stall. The load cells are installed at each end of the airfoil and give the force response in two directions in the plane normal to the airfoil axis during oscillations. Experiments are carried out at a Reynolds number based on the airfoil chord equal to 7.7×10⁴, and at four reduced frequencies, k=0.005, 0.01, 0.02, and 0.04. Phase-averaged lift of the airfoil undergoing dynamic stall is presented. It is observed that hysteresis loops of the lift occur both when the airfoil is pitched to exceed its static stall limit and when it is still within its static stall limit, and they grow in size with increasing k at the same pitching mean angle of attack and pitching amplitude. Both the lift and the drag induced by the pitching motion are further analyzed using the methods of higher order correlation analysis and continuous wavelet transforms to undercover their nonlinear and nonstationary features, in addition to classical FFT-based spectral analysis. The results are quantitatively illustrated by an energy partition analysis. It is found that the unsteady lift and drag show opposite trends when the airfoil undergoes transition from the pre-stall regime to the full-stall regime. The degree of nonlinearity of the lift increases, and the lift show a nonstationary feature in the light-stall regime, while the nonlinearity of the drag decreases, and the drag shows nonstationary feature in both the light-stall and the full-stall regimes. Furthermore, the lift and the drag have significant nonlinear interactions as shown by the correlation analysis in the light-stall regime.     

低雷诺数俯仰振荡翼型等离子体流动控制

针对低雷诺数翼型气动性能差的特点, 通过介质阻挡放电(dielectric barrier discharge, DBD)等离子体激励控制的方法, 提高翼型低雷诺数下的气动特性,改善其流场结构. 采用二维准直接数值模拟方法求解非定常不可压Navier-Stokes方程,对具有俯仰运动的NACA0012翼型的低雷诺数流动展开数值模拟.同时将介质阻挡放电激励对流动的作用以彻体力源项的形式加入Navier-Stokes方程,通过数值模拟探究稳态DBD等离子体激励对俯仰振荡NACA0012翼型气动特性和流场特性的影响.为了进行流动控制, 分别在上下表面的前缘和后缘处安装DBD等离子体激励器,并提出四种激励器的开环控制策略,通过对比研究了这些控制策略在不同雷诺数、不同减缩频率以及激励位置下的控制效果.通过流场结构和动态压强分析了等离子体进行流场控制的机理. 结果表明,前缘DBD控制中控制策略B(负攻角时开启上表面激励器,正攻角时开启下表面激励器)效果最好,后缘DBD控制中控制策略C(逆时针旋转时开启上表面激励器,顺时针旋转时开启下表面激励器)效果最好,前缘DBD控制效果会随着减缩频率的增大而下降, 同时会导致阻力增大.而后缘DBD控制可以减小压差阻力, 优于前缘DBD控制,对于计算的所有减缩频率(5.01~11.82)都有较好的增升减阻效果.在不同雷诺数下, DBD控制的增升效果较为稳定, 而减阻效果随着雷诺数的降低而变差,这是由流体黏性效应增强导致的.